ImproMedia - Sounds & Music

<body text="black", link="black"> <center> <h1></h1> <div id="note" class="PopStyle"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <a name="geluiden.en.muziek"></a> <table width=100% cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0> <tr align=left> <td><h1>The collection of sound and music </h1></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>As far as FoleySFX is concerned: Apart from all instruments, electronics, computers and dedicated software, it all comes down to have a solid collection of sound effects and musical underscores. A healthy (in my case life-long) passion for sound effects and a general interest in production music may then come in handy.<br> <br> It is a great challenge to collect and edit sounds and music to optimize their use for improvisation in the theatre. Their usefulness should always come in the first place. How they are generated (either acoustical or electronic) may be transparent to the spectator, although the presence of the <em>Live SFX Console</em> on stage is not to be underestimated.<br></p></td> </tr> </table> <a name="bruikbaarheid.sfx"></a> <table width=100% cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0> <tr align=left> <td><h1>Sound Effects </h1></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>The quest for useful sound effects never comes to an end. Of course this is part of the fun as well. I use both own recordings and (edited) stock sound effects from compact discs. A few professional tracks (Hollywood Edge, Lucas Film) are used, but the cheap 'bargain cellar' discs prove just as useful sometimes as well. There are also a lot of effects available on the internet nowadays (take a look at the <a href="/en/p-content/1087229610" target="content">hyperlinks page</a>) although their usability is not always optimal. Some common drawbacks of ready made sound effects are:<br> <ul><li><strong>Quality</strong> - The sound quality is poor. An 8-bits MP3 sample from a website may lack the high tones to be used professionally. Ideally each sound must be recorded 'transparent' enough to be used as a building block together with other sounds.</li> <li><strong>Colored</strong> - The sound is not 'neutral', it has too much definition. For instance a voice-over or cheers at specific moments in the effect of a football game. Just not usable because the sound it too much 'colored' already.<br> </li> <li><strong>Composed</strong> - The effect is layered from multiple sounds that have more use individually. For example the sound of a sailing ship that is already 'enhanced' with heavy gulf and screaming sea gulls may just define the environment too much when used as an ambiance for an improvised scene.</li><li><strong>Reverb or effects</strong> - The ideal sound effect is recorded 'dry'; without additional effects. On sound effects cd's, the <em>dripping of water</em> is almost always smothered with <em>bathroom reverb</em>. It gives much more control to add the reverb yourself, based on the location where scene is really taking place.<br> </li> <li><strong>Not available</strong> - The effect is just not popular enough to make it to a consumer sound effects cd.  Everybody who collects these sound effect cd's, ends up with a zillion recordings of breaking glass, slamming doors and animal sounds. If you need a loopable ambiance of the hum inside a car during some rainfall (wipers, city noises, engine) you better record it yourself. The professional libraries sometimes also do a great job here, but they may be expensive.<br> </li><li><strong>Length</strong> - Most sounds on cheap consumer cd's are too short to loop. A loop that is too short may distract because the audience may recognize the earlier parts. By layering and eliminating distinct 'anchors' from the sound, it can sometimes be edited into a useful loop.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br> </span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spot Effect</span> - Most of the available sound effects are <a href="/en/p-content/1087220762" target="content">spot effects</a>. Even when made available through a computer assisted search system (on a lap top computer) it may not be possible to synchronize them with the split second action on stage. From an audience point of view, plain silence is much better than an effect that is not exactly timed with the visible action. After all, the sound operators job is not to show off with the available sounds. Every sound used must build upon the action on stage.<br> </li> </ul>By just keeping your ears open at all times, you don't have to carry a recording device where ever you go (although an iPod may help, ha ha) to build your own collection of useful sound effects.<br> <br> Personally, this is a hobby for me since the mid seventies. It started with cracking records picked up at the local library. These records where copied to compact cassettes and the index was typed out on an old typewriter. Nowadays the computer assists in building a collection and the sound quality has improved a thousandfold. By using <em>Logic Pro</em> and an up to date <em>Macintosh G5</em> there is not too much to wish for anymore there. But remember... These are all just tools and no guarantee for creativity.<br></p></td> </tr> </table> <a name="stockmusic"></a> <table width=100% cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0> <tr align=left> <td><h1>Production and stockmusic </h1></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>In the field of musical software, the possibilities become more powerful every day. Most of the original FoleySFX functionality is already standard available in applications like <em>iTunes</em>. With <em>Garageband</em> (both applications are part of the <em>iLife </em>suite) it is possible to compose dedicated orchestral backtracks for al kinds of improvised performances. An advantage is that the music can be kept clean for vocal use without any copyright hassles. The perfect accompaniment music!<br> <br> It is always useful to have additional royalty free stock music and production tracks in your collection. For most occasions there is special music to be found in these libraries. An additional advantage is that short versions or underscores of the tune is available. For use in the theatre this is almost a must. </p></td> </tr> </table> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <ul class="menu" id="menu"><li id="d-1087212011" class=" cms_parent"><a href="/en/1087212011">ImproMedia</a><ul><li id="d-1087220762" class=""><a href="/en/1087220762">Effects</a></li><li id="d-1087220833" class=""><a href="/en/1087220833">Musical</a></li><li id="d-1087220789" class=""><a href="/en/1087220789">Image Beaming</a></li></ul></li><li id="d-1087229610" class=""><a href="/en/1087229610">Background Info</a></li><li id="d-percussie" class=" cms_parent"><a href="/en/percussie" title="Live Percussion">Live Percussion</a><ul><li id="d-rhythm" class=""><a href="/en/rhythm" title="Salsa rhythms">Rhythms</a></li><li id="d-conga-stands" class=""><a href="/en/conga.stands" title="Conga Stands">Conga Stands</a></li><li id="d-salsaband" class=""><a href="/en/salsaband" title="Salsaband">Salsaband</a></li></ul></li><li id="d-1087222686" class=" cms_parent"><a href="/en/1087222686">Live SFX Console</a><ul><li id="d-1093779731" class=""><a href="/en/1093779731">Sounds & Music</a></li><li id="d-1087222895" class=""><a href="/en/1087222895">FoleySFX</a></li><li id="d-1093646378" class=""><a href="/en/1093646378">AcoustFX</a></li><li id="d-1093687086" class=""><a href="/en/1093687086">Foley OS X/Linux</a></li></ul></li><li id="d-livescore" class=" cms_parent"><a href="/en/livescore" title="LiveScore">LiveScore</a><ul><li id="d-in-en-uitvoer" class=""><a href="/en/in.en.uitvoer" title="Input and Reports">Input and Reports</a></li></ul></li><li id="d-1087222754" class=" cms_parent"><a href="/en/1087222754">Technical</a><ul><li id="d-1087223102" class=""><a href="/en/1087223102">Downloads</a></li></ul></li><li id="d-gallery" class=""><a href="/en/gallery" title="Gallery">Gallery</a></li><li id="d-1087221847" class=""><a href="/en/1087221847">Contact</a></li></ul> </center> <script type="text/javascript" src="/p-httpd/_cms/os/awstats/awstats_misc_tracker_cookie.js"></script><noscript><img src="/awstats_empty.php?nojs=y" height="0" width="0" style="border-width:0px; display:none;" alt:"awstats" /></noscript></body>